Country explorer: Djibouti

Djibouti has experienced significant economic transformation, evidenced by a steady increase in GDP per capita, a complex poverty distribution dynamic, persistently high unemployment rates, and variable inflation, distinguishing it from some of its peers through a combination of sustained economic development efforts amidst challenges of poverty, joblessness, and inflation control.

Djibouti has exhibited steady population growth, fluctuating but generally positive net migration, a gradually declining fertility rate, and an improving life expectancy, trends indicative of its progressing socio-economic status and health improvement, paralleling its lower-middle-income country peers but with distinct resilience and gradual improvement in demographic health indicators.

Djibouti has seen a gradual improvement in access to basic needs, with increases in the population's access to clean cooking fuels, electricity, and safely managed sanitation, mirroring broader trends in lower-middle-income countries, yet still facing significant gaps compared to global averages.

Djibouti has experienced gradual improvements in human development, witnessed by a steady increase in the Human Development Index (HDI), a decline in child mortality rates, and fluctuations in literacy rates, indicative of efforts towards enhancing societal welfare in line with regional trends albeit at a varied pace.

Djibouti has managed slight increases in forest area and reductions in per capita CO₂ emissions amidst challenges of limited freshwater resources and a focus on expanding renewable energy sources, reflecting efforts toward environmental sustainability in a region where such resources are critically limited.

Djibouti has seen significant advancements in technology and innovation, characterized by a marked increase in internet usage from almost non-existent to over half the population being online, a growth in mobile phone subscriptions, but with limited data on research and development spending and a modest output in scientific and technical journal articles, highlighting a journey of digital transformation common among its peer lower-middle-income countries, yet with room for growth in scientific research and innovation.

Djibouti has maintained a relatively stable share of foreign-born population, demonstrated moderate variations in self-reported life satisfaction, and experienced a consistent decrease in the age dependency ratio, indicating societal changes towards a more demographically balanced and diverse culture, common traits within the region but distinct in its stability amidst varying regional dynamics.

Djibouti has experienced modest fluctuations in governance, characterized by slight improvements in some areas like the rule of law, but persistent challenges in others, such as press freedom and corruption perception, distinguishing it as a country struggling for meaningful progress amidst regional complexities.